Reviewed
by
Sophie Whin on
October 11th, 2011
Dreamworks Pictures presents
a film directed byShawn
Levy Screenplay
byDan
Gilroy and Jeremy Leven, based on the short story "Steel" by Jeremy
Leven
Starring:Hugh
Jackman, Dakota Goyo and James RebhornRunning
Time:
127 minsRating:
MReleased:October 6th,
2011

7/10

Shawn
Levy’s Real Steel does not contain the visual
grandeur of the recent Transformers franchise or the
emotional
scope of Rocky (1976). However, its
combination of boxing with robots and family drama will surely see it
become a
box office K.O.

The film is set in the ambiguous future
where
robot fighting is the new American past time as human boxers are
becoming
obsolete. Insert Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), a veteran fighter who
travels
the American ‘Bible Belt’, entering his antique robot in rodeo shows
and
various country fairs. Knee deep in debt, Charlie struggles to make a
name for
himself in the highly competitive sport, whilst dealing with his own
baggage
concerning his former glory days. When the mother of his estranged
11-year-old
son Max (Dakota Goyo) dies unexpectedly, Charlie spies an opportunity
to extort
money from Max’s uncle Marvin (James Rebhorn), who hopes to adopt Max
away from
his deadbeat father. Thrust together for the summer season, Max and
Charlie
bond over their love for the sport and Charlie attempts to mentor his
son in
the finer points of machine fighting after Max unearths ATOM, an older
model
boxing cyborg. Following national exposure in the professional league,
Charlie
is forced to determine what is more important to him: fame or his son.

There is
something about underdog stories. Not
only do they transcend genres but they seemingly resonate with every
audience
member regardless of age, race or gender. In Real Steel, the
recycled ‘triumph-against-the-odds’ theme only
empowers the central plot and complements the glimmers of action from
the ring.
Hugh Jackman as the world-weary Charlie is solid and Evangeline Lilly
adds
emotional depth to her character, which provides a parallel with
Charlie’s hard
exterior. While it is slightly disappointing that she was not used
more, it is
understandable that Levy chose to focus solely on the developing
relationship
between father and son. Newcomer Dakota Goyo is brilliant as Max with
the
scenes between Jackman and himself embodying a child’s defiance and
vulnerability. Goyo seamlessly bounces off the older actor like a pro.

Thankfully Real
Steel was not presented in 3D, which shows a confidence in the
two-dimensional effects that are on the whole spellbinding. The perfect
balance
of family journey versus robots kicking-ass allows Levy to fine tune
the
special effects and give the synthetic fighters an authenticity that is
rarely
seen in films today. It is especially exciting witnessing the titular
fight
between ATOM and ZEUS (the World Robot Boxing champion), where the
David and
Goliath battle holds a nail-biting suspense, the likes of which has not
been
portrayed since Million Dollar Baby (2004).
It is refreshing to view a film that can create drama through action
and
especially noteworthy that a film can create drama through robots.
Unfortunately,
the film ends too quickly and the beginning build-up takes up more than
two
thirds of the piece. Levy should not have been so quick to conclude and
the
fighting sequences could have been prolonged for aesthetics sake.

For a
film that is essentially Rocky plus robots, Real Steel has astounding potential and possess’ enough
human
sentiment to provide a story based in reality. The winning combination
lies
most definitely in the connection between the earthly characters and
their
metallic champions, with particular reference to Max’s relationship
with ATOM.
Whether we’re interested in robots or boxing is irrelevant, as Real Steel packs a punch that will make
even the most pessimistic moviegoer jump up and cheer.